Lyle E. Fenner

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Passed away, on March 11, 2013 in Roseburg, Oregon. He was born in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan, on July 24, 1918. Lyle came to the U.S. with his family prior to school age and settled in Potlatch, Idaho, where he went through the Potlatch school system from first grade through high school. He married Marianne Johnson while both were attending the University of Idaho in Moscow in 1941. That union produced two sons, Michael and David. A third son died in childbirth, along with Marianne, in Roseburg in 1948. After World War II, Lyle, having served with the Armed Forces Rado Service in Greenland for two years, was discharged from the service at Fort Lewis, WA, in 1945. He then immediately began his civilian career in radio broadcasting in Vancouver, WA. at KVAN. He left KVAN in 1948, joining the staff as the first full-time announcer at KRNR in Roseburg, at that time the city’s only radio station. In 1950 he married Helen White Cordon, not only acquiring a new wife, but also a stepson, David Cordon. The family moved to Portland in 1955 where Lyle joined KGW, the NBC affiliate in that city, as news director and program manager. During the years the family lived in Portland, he worked in radio news for three stations in the city. Lyle spent 40 years in radio broadcasting, finishing his career back in Roseburg when he purchased KQEN after serving first as station manager for three years, and then operated that station until he sold out and retired in 1985. He often remarked about his good fortune in spending his working years doing something he enjoyed -- something that was absolutely fun! He was preceded in death by the aforementioned first wife, Marianne; a brother, Donald Fenner; a son, Michael; and stepson, David Cordon. He is survived by his wife, Helen; sister, Laura; son, David (Mary Lynn); and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It is his wish that no service be held in commemoration of his death, but rather a reflection by those who knew him (and loved him), enjoying fond memories of times shared.